No review on contract for Arkansas smoking-cessation hotlineLITTLE ROCK — Arkansas could become the only state in the nation without a "hotline" for people who want to quit smoking unless lawmakers change their minds. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports the Arkansas Legislative Council voted Friday not to review a contract for the state's smoking-cessation hotline. Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, made the motion to not review it and says the state is spending too much money on the contract. Gary Wh...

by
THE ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Beware timeshare resale troublesLITTLE ROCK — Some Arkansans may have previously decided to invest in a timeshare. They had been sold on a guaranteed vacation location, upscale lodging accommodations and the ability to exchange shares for other properties. But now they may be strapped by expensive annual maintenance fees, difficulty exchanging weeks and locations and finding that the property value they assumed would remain steady or even increase has remained the same or de...

Around the state• Religious objection opt-out for Arkansas counselors stalls LITTLE ROCK — A rule that would allow Arkansas counselors to refer patients to another provider over religious objections has been returned to subcommittee. The Arkansas Legislative Council voted Friday to return the rule to a subcommittee. State Rep. Andy Davis, co-chair of the subcommittee, says the move will allow for more discussion on the measure. The rule proposed by the state ...

by
THE ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

State Capitol Week in ReviewLITTLE ROCK — Arkansas is one of numerous states experiencing an alarming spike in deaths attributable to prescription pain killers. A physician with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, in a presentation to a legislative committee, said that changes in state law are needed in response to the statewide epidemic of abuse of drugs known as opioids. They include hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, codeine, heroin and fentanyl. According...

by
FROM THE OFFICE OF SEN. GREG STANDRIDGEThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

State Briefs (June 17, 2016)• Mother of slain Searcy toddler pleads not guilty to threats SEARCY — The mother of a slain toddler has pleaded not guilty to threatening a child-welfare worker. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that 26-year-old Tanya Drummond was arrested in April and charged with second-degree terrorist threatening. Drummond is the mother of 2-year-old Malik Drummond, who disappeared in November 2014. His father, 43-year-old Jeffery Clifton, was senten...

Airport officials endorse $6.2M upgradeLITTLE ROCK — Airport officials have endorsed a proposed $6.2 million contract to upgrade the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport/Adams Field. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission lease committee endorsed the contract Wednesday. Under the contract, the flooring, wall and ceiling finishes and millwork would be replaced at the airport as part of its upgrade of the 12-gate concourse. Repair...

by
THE ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

'Disgusting' weather in Arkansas prompts heat warningLITTLE ROCK — An excessive heat warning is in effect for central Arkansas because of temperatures that will feel like 110 degrees or hotter. The warning is in effect from 1 p.m. until 10 p.m. Thursday for Conway, Faulkner, Grant, Jefferson, Lonoke, Perry, Prairie, Pulaski, Saline and White counties. The rest of the state is covered by a heat advisory, which is issued when heat index values exceed 105 degrees or actual air temperature is 103 or...

by
THE ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

National group opposes religious opt-out effortLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The American Counseling Association said Thursday it's opposed to an effort in Arkansas to allow counselors to refer clients to another provider if they have a religious objection to treating them. The association's director of government affairs, Art Terrazas, said the rule change proposed by the state Board of Examiners in Counseling is unnecessary and he was concerned about the impact it could have. Lawmakers have g...

Winrock International, Innovation Hub planning to combine forcesLITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- An international development organization that traces its roots to the late Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller announced Wednesday it's combining forces with another Arkansas nonprofit that was formed to help budding entrepreneurs. The Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub will join Winrock International, officials from the central Arkansas nonprofits announced at a news conference. The Hub's executive director, state Rep. Warwick Sabin...

Challenge of corpse abuse law rejectedLITTLE ROCK -- A judge has rejected challenges to the legality of Arkansas' corpse-abuse law made by a former manager of a funeral home where bodies were found stacked on top of each other in unrefrigerated areas. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza issued his decision Tuesday, clearing the way for prosecutors to use evidence from a 2015 inspection of Arkansas Funeral Care in Jacksonville. Forme...

National Guard reports death of soldier at Fort ChaffeeFORT SMITH — The Arkansas National Guard says a soldier has died while training at Fort Chaffee in western Arkansas. The guard said in a statement that 32-year-old Sgt. Sylvester B. Cline of Pine Bluff died Tuesday night at a Fort Smith hospital. Cline was assigned to Company A, 39th Brigade Support Battalion of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The guard says Cline's cause of death is under investigation but that it wasn't caused by a we...

by
THE ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

State Briefs (June 15, 2016)Conway woman dies in canoeing accident HASTY -- National Park Service officials say an Arkansas woman has died in a canoeing accident on the Buffalo National River. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that Kristen Johnson of Conway drowned when the canoe she was in overturned near the Hasty access point in the Upper District of the river. She was seen as she went underwater, but never resurfaced. Johnson's body was recovered later Sunday eve...

Manhunt pushes forward for convicted killerLITTLE ROCK -- Authorities in Arkansas were searching Tuesday for a man convicted of killing a teenage girl after he disappeared by walking away from a work crew. The Arkansas Department of Correction said guards at the East Arkansas Unit in Brickeys, about 120 miles east of Little Rock, noticed the 40-year-old Jones was missing from a work crew around noon Monday. Solomon Graves, a spokesman for the department told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazet...

Religious objection opt-out for Arkansas counselors advancesLITTLE ROCK -- A rule allowing counselors in Arkansas to refer patients to another provider over religious objections to treating them won initial approval Tuesday, sparking criticism that the move could deny mental health services to gay and lesbian people. A subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council endorsed the rule change proposed by the state Board of Examiners in Counseling, which regulates 2,800 counselors and marriage and family...

Little Rock Zoo receives nearly $3 million trust donationLITTLE ROCK — The Little Rock Zoo says it's received a nearly $3 million trust donation, making it the largest gift in the zoo's history. The trust will establish an endowment fund called the Jayne and Fletcher Jackson Foundation and will benefit the Arkansas Zoological Foundation, which raises money for the zoo. The trust was established after Jayne Jackson died in December at the age of 70. The zoo says Jayne Jackson had decided with her lat...

by
THE ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Analysis: Month-long sprint begins for petition signaturesLITTLE ROCK — Canvassers around the state are in a month-long sprint to gather thousands of signatures for proposed ballot issues. Depending on how things fall, Arkansas voters might have a chance to consider multiple marijuana-related proposals this fall. The marijuana measures, a plan to legalize casinos in three counties, an effort to impose strict term limits on legislators and new limits on lawsuit damages are the half-dozen proposals vyi...

by
BY ANDREW DEMILLO ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Shooting at Arkansas mosque leaves 1 man woundedFORREST CITY — Police say a bystander was wounded when a man fired shots inside an Arkansas mosque during an argument between two families. The Times-Herald reported Monday (http://bit.ly/1UgjFaD ) that the 43-year-old man was in good condition when he was taken to a hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, following the shooting Friday night in Forrest City, Arkansas. Police say the shooting occurred during a meeting that was called to try and settle ...

by
THE ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Arkansas prisoner escapes; killed girl and put her in barrel LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas officials say a man who admitted killing a teenager and then stuffing her body in a barrel buried on his brother's property has escaped from prison. Prisons spokesman Solomon Graves said 40-year-old Lloyd Jones of Lavaca has been missing since midday Monday. Graves said Jones was on a work crew at the maximum-security East Arkansas Unit near Brickeys. Graves said it wasn't clear how Jones escaped, and he didn't know what...

Harrison advocacy center gets comfort dogHARRISON — Sleeping at work is usually frowned upon, but for Isadora, it's just part of her job. Isadora, or Isadorable as she's known around Grandma's House, is a 3-year-old mixed golden Labrador/retriever, and she's the newest staff member at the children's advocacy center. Isadora's job is to be a dog, and she does her job very well. The Harrison Daily (http://bit.ly/1Ug4kbr ) reports that Isadora's job title is actually "child comfort spec...

by
THE ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Louisiana woman dies after crashing into Arkansas lakeLAKE VILLAGE — A Louisiana woman has died after crashing her vehicle into Lake Chicot in southeastern Arkansas. Arkansas State Police say 51-year-old Sandra Joyce Fisher of St. Joseph, Louisiana, died following the crash about 5 p.m. Friday. A police report says Fisher was northbound on U.S. Highway 65 when she lost control of the van she was driving while trying to make a turn onto U.S. 82. The report says the van then went through a red ligh...

by
THE ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley